India's GST Council's pops a new tax on popcorn

Before exploring how popcorn became ubiquitous across societies worldwide, let's examine its relationship with tax inflation. During World War II, even wealthy civilians struggled to afford a single daily meal. Meanwhile, poor farmers roasted popcorn to stave off hunger. The rich, faced with no alternatives and the threat of starvation, reluctantly set aside their pride. They often ate popcorn secretly at night to avoid being seen consuming what was considered a poor man's food. This dynamic led to popcorn's popularity in theaters, where darkness provided the anonymity for people of all classes to enjoy it without social judgment. Through this transition, popcorn evolved from a survival food for the poor into a universal treat. Today in India, the situation has reversed ironically. The poor can no longer afford what was once their staple food. Due to GST, popcorn carries a 5% tax when sold unpackaged or unlabeled, and 12% when pre-packaged and labeled—making it increasingly out of reach for those who historically depended on it.